The Allahabad High Court Bar Association has strongly opposed the Supreme Court Collegium’s decision to transfer Delhi High Court Judge Justice Yashwant Varma to the Allahabad High Court following the recovery of ₹15 crore in unaccounted cash from his residence following a fire break out at his house.
In a scathing letter titled “WE ARE NOT THRASH BIN” (sic), the Bar Association has raised serious concerns over the manner in which judicial transfers and elevations are being undertaken, questioning whether the Supreme Court considers the Allahabad High Court as a dumping ground for judges facing allegations of corruption.
Justice Yashwant Varma, a judge of the Delhi High Court found himself in hot water when a fire broke out at his residence. Following a short dousing operation, the fire brigade inadvertently discovered a massive amount of cash in a room within Justice Varma’s residence.
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The news picked up pace and was soon the talk of the town, and the court halls. The Supreme Court Collegium, led by Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna, swiftly decided to repatriate the judge to his parent High Court at Allahabad. However, rather than addressing the issue, the decision has only intensified the anger within the Allahabad legal fraternity.
The letter, undersigned by Senior Advocate Anil Tiwari, President of the Allahabad HCBA, makes the Association’s position clear:
“Allahabad High Court kude ka dibba nahi hai jo yahan bhej diya gaya hai” (Allahabad High Court is not a trash bin that anything can be thrown here).
“We are already facing numerous problems, particularly the shortage of judges, which has resulted in fresh cases not being heard for months, thereby diminishing the faith of the public in the rule of law. But it does not mean that we are a thrash bin. We are not ready to accept corruption.”
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The Bar Association has also criticized the lack of consultation in judicial appointments and elevations, questioning the process that leads to such crises in the judiciary. The letter also states that the rampant corruption within the judiciary has severely damaged public trust and suggests that judicial appointments should involve the Bar more actively.
The Bar also reminded the Supreme Court that it has repeatedly criticized the Allahabad High Court itself, recalling Writ Petition No. 84/2025, where the Supreme Court found fault with the overload of cases at the High Court. The Association pointedly remarked on this contradiction – that, the shortage of judges at the High Court does not mean that they are ready to let corruption make inroads into the system
Eminent personalities within the legal fraternity have weighed in on the situation with Former President of Supreme Court Bar Association, Vikas Singh saying “people have their trust in the functioning of the judiciary and if this kind of cash is discovered in the residence of a judge and if there is no explanation forthcoming then this has to be taken very seriously.”
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Meanwhile, President of the Supreme Court Bar Association and Member of Rajya Sabha, Kapil Sibal called on the Supreme Court to review the Judicial Appointment process. Advocate Sibal further commented that the “issue of corruption within the judiciary” is a serious issue, and called for a check on the powers vested upon judges so as to prevent free reign.
In light of these concerns, the General House of the Allahabad High Court Bar Association has been convened on March 24 at 1:15 PM in the Library Hall to decide further action.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has initiated an in-house inquiry into the matter. However, the Bar Association’s letter serves as a stark reminder that judicial corruption is no longer just an allegation – it is a crisis that threatens the credibility of the very system meant to uphold justice.
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